First records of Spinetail Devil Ray, Mobula mobular (Bonnaterre, 1788), and Bentfin Devil Ray, M. thurstoni (Lloyd, 1908) (Myliobatiformes, Mobulidae), in French Polynesia
The first confirmed sightings of Spinetail Devil Ray, Mobula mobular (Bonnaterre, 1788), and Bentfin Devil Ray, M. thurstoni (Lloyd, 1908) (Myliobatiformes, Mobulidae), are reported in French Polynesia. An individual of M. mobular was observed in the Society Archipelago, and a group of seven M. thurstoni were observed in a courtship display in the Marquesas Archipelago. Currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, they face ongoing threats from environmental change and bycatch in industrial fisheries. There is a need for further research in the region to support conservation efforts of these two species.
Authors
- Alice S. Carpentier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9673-7864)
- Guy M. W. Stevens (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2056-9830)
- Nicolas Buray
- Maya Santangelo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2662-2903)
- Adeline Goyaud
- Cécile Berthe
- Fanny Martre
- Toanui Tulasne-Atiu
- Virginie Poly
Institutions
- National Trust (GB)
- University of French Polynesia (PF)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Check List
- Published
- 2025-11-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.15560/21.6.1099
- Primary Topic
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Office Français de la Biodiversité